Finished my second mixed media piece today! This little leaping lady wore a few different outfits (an American dollar bill, a circuit board, and a decorated Christmas tree) before I decided the painted look works best for her.

It’s interesting how your creative outlets change over time. Now that my income relies primarily on my writing and social media skills, I’m more inclined to get crafty on the living room floor with a pair of scissors and 10 shredded newspapers. Happy Sunday! xx

I sat on the floor with a stack of magazines, newspapers, scissors and Scream Queens on in the background. I didn’t know what I set out to make, but I knew the minute it was finished. After admiring other artists’ mixed media pieces for what feels like a lifetime, it feels so good to release my own into the wild. I’m curious- what does this piece say to you?

Today Tim and I played tourists in the city of Saskatoon to celebrate our last Saturday here together. I use the word “celebrate” loosely, because I am really going to miss visiting him here. I have fallen in love with the city and all the memories it holds of our relationship. Here’s to hoping Vancouver has a little space for us to bloom, too. ❤️️

Top Left: I think I could be a far more productive cubicle dweller if this was my chair. It’s a reasonable office supply request, right?

Top Right: When I found this picture it reminded me of all the things that inspired me to write when I first started this blog. I wanted a place where I could spew endless positivity and celebrate the little things- like pink donuts with police officer sprinkles. State & Occupation had it’s 2nd birthday last week and I found myself fondly reminiscing on old posts like this one, this one, & this one.

Bottom Left: I have found so much inspiration in the work of Chicago based artist Mari Orr. Like, you’ve got to be kidding me with this pineapple skin crocodile…

Bottom Right: I’ve never seen a psychic before, but my Nana recently sent over a recording of her visit with one from February. Though I’m not totally sold that this woman possessed a true magical talent, she did hit the nail on the head when she spoke about me, my love for my little brother and my relationship with Tim. She referenced his good looks and my Nana gushed, “Oh yeah, when we were first introduced I called him Brad all night because he looks like Brad Pitt!” Hehe- I’m definitely intrigued to see a psychic of my own now. Have you ever seen one?!

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.” -Paulo Coelho

Left: As I mentioned a couple posts back, I’ve been on a serious reading streak. I finished reading White Girl Problems and its sequel Psychos a couple weeks ago and can’t recommend them enough if you’re looking for a hilariously addicting book. Inside you’ll find quotes from the faux author like “Sorry I texted you 93 times last night“, “I’ve learned that while ex-cons may not make the best drivers or boyfriends, they really are the best at getting you in shape,” and “That’s the thing about college—you pay a ton of money just to realize that everyone is a fucking moron.” She’s essentially this emoji 24/7. Middle: While I am sad to announce my days of working in my undies and knee-highs all day long are quickly coming to an end, I am unbelievably excited to announce that I have landed a really amazing job. Freelancing for the last few months has been a fun adventure that has given me wild amounts of freedom but I am so thrilled to be returning to stability tomorrow morning! Ps- this postmight come in handy for me this week.

Right: Have you ever wondered what your nude body looks like to other people? I found out- the teeny booty is my favourite part.

“Yes, this is a magical moment for us and I’m glad that us is an ever expanding concept.” –Dallas Clayton

A couple days ago a question asked planted a very uninvited idea in my mind. “Are you just going to spend your entire 20’s in a long distance relationship?”

My entire 20’s…? What a terrifying concept. I hadn’t thought about my age in a long time until that moment. I’m 2 years in to these 20’s and as I’ve said more than once, I often feel more lost than I did when I was a teenager. A few years back I swore I had it all figured out- but now shudder to imagine having acted on those things I thought I wanted when I was 16.. 17.. 18. Will I look back at 22 and be confused by my choices? I don’t know. What I do know is that I am really, really, really in love with someone who is really, really, really good to me. Someone that says things like “you wanna take a bath or something?” and swears I make him better. So why shouldn’t I have my head in the clouds? Why shouldn’t I bet against the odds in this long distance relationship? If this is the decade where we’re ‘supposed’ to do all the things, see all the places and experience everything- why should love be excluded from that?

PS:
– I have read this over and over and am still so inspired
– I need this on a shirt. And a hat. And a mug.
-If looking to Milhouse for vegan inspiration is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
– My last cloudy post, here.

This post isn’t about gumballs, but how much fun was my mini-series last week? It was incredibly satisfying to make something that people liked. I think I was born to love and create.

I’m finding that all I want to talk about lately is books and vegetables and I’m actually not sorry about that at all. This excerpt from the book Eating Animals stuck with me, I think it contains something big and important.

“Why is taste, the crudest of our senses, exempted from the ethical rules that govern our other senses? If you stop to think about it, it’s crazy. Why doesn’t a horny person have as strong a claim to raping an animal as a hungry one does to killing and eating it? And how would you judge an artist who mutilated animals in a gallery because it was visually arresting? How riveting would the sound of a tortured animal need to be to make you want to hear it that badly? Try to imagine any end other than taste for which it would be justifiable to do what we do to farm animals.”

I get that it’s graphic and bold- but it holds a lot of validity. As humans we tend to put our blinders on to the ugly stuff and I’ve been inspired to take mine off. I’ve coasted through the last 9 months of vegetarianism with the mindset of “I don’t want to push my views on anyone,” but the more I learn, the more I actually do.

If you’re having a hard time relating, check out this recipe for sautéed dog meat. What do you feel? I’m genuinely curious.

Any creative person has probably fallen in to the “everything has been done before” slump at some point. Today I am so inspired by the creativity of others that reminds me “no it hasn’t,” and by anyone brave enough to pursue even the smallest slice of their dreams.

Top Left: I came across this instagram account run by Marjorie Lacombe. She’s in the midst of a photo series called “Watch It!” where she explores how many things she can fit on a watch (so far she’s done limes, peanut butter and jelly, eggs, sprinkles, sequins, ravioli, pom-poms) and the photos are so pleasing for the eyeballs.

Top Right: Is there anything happier than little baby surfers in your morning coffee? (104 days till summer!)

Bottom Left: A quick peek at my inspiration-board will tell you I am reeeeally drawn to creative nudity and mixed media, so naturally this is one of my favourites from a photo series by Mashara Wachjudy called “Ladies of the Land“.

Bottom Right:Tim and I talk a lot about the fearlessness that comes with childhood. I have a million and one memories of being a careless little kid, riding the rides at the amusement park with no fear and complete trust in the carnies who put them together. I envy that feeling now when I find myself ferociously scribbling new additions to my list of worries (aka not trusting the carnies of life- ha!). I made a note for myself to remember that when the days feel too grey and everything feels bad it probably means I have slipped up on celebrating all the little things that I preach. Like this. And this. Or these. Or this.

How is your February going? Mine is going insanely fast and I suffered a long round of writer’s block. Writing felt like work and I really, really, really didn’t like that feeling. Right around the same time my favourite magic lady was talking about Mercury Retrograde, which I learned is something that happens 3 to 4 times a year when the planet Mercury slows down and appears to move backwards- during this time believers say delays and misunderstandings and other general negativities are abundant. Whether you think it’s nonsense or not, I’m not one to pass up a great excuse to explain my lack of productivity.
I wanted to share 3 of my favourite things that I’ve been collecting for you this month. 1.) I came across this simple palm reading guide and found it interesting (I have air hands, fall in love easily, am creative and full of energy). Do it and tell me your findings! 2.) This Boom Clap cover is so good, I can’t stop playing it. 3.) Frankly I’m surprised I’ve made it through 22 birthdays without this ring.